WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Spirit announced Monday that acting head coach Kris Ward was hired as the club’s head coach on a permanent basis.

Ward first joined the Spirit technical staff in August 2020 as team tactical analysis and player performance development coach before being named acting head coach in early August, succeeding Richie Burke. Burke was fired.

Since taking the helm, Ward guided the Spirit to a 9-2-3 record in which both losses were forfeits. Ward capped off his acting head coach tenure, directing the team to its first NWSL championship.

“I’m very excited to be continuing as the head coach here in Washington,” Ward said in a statement. “We’re building something special with this club and I’m honored to continue to be a part of it.”

Ward served as the boys soccer head coach at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. He also has previous experience in the scouting department for Seattle Sounders FC, as an executive director of coaching with DC Soccer Club and as a first assistant coach with the Spirit in its first year in the NWSL.

“Kris guided this team through a turbulent season that ultimately led to our club’s first championship win,” Spirit president Ben Olsen said in a statement. “When you look at his record, it’s clear that he’s earned this. But more than that, he has helped to foster a positive environment for the players. We are very excited to keep him with us and look forward to the 2022 season.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.